Saturday, November 15, 2003

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno installed Brig. Gen. (ret) Abraham Octovianus Atururi as the governor of Irian Jaya Barat province, despite controversy over the status of the province. Atuturi was inaugurated based on presidential decree No. 213/M dated Nov. 11, 2003, which followed a previous decree stipulating the creation of the province signed in January. His inauguration marks the official split of Irian Jaya Barat from Papua. Atururi had been appointed governor under the transitional government of president B.J. Habibie in 1999. However, mounting opposition later prompted a delay in the regional split.

In a related development, General Elections Commission (KPU) member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the KPU would follow up the formal existence of Irian Jaya Barat province with the establishment of a provincial elections commission (KPUD). "We shall carry out a test of suitability to select five of 10 candidates for members of Irian Jaya Barat KPUD," he told the Jakarta Post. Pending the establishment of the Irian Jaya Barat KPUD, the Papua election commission will carry out the job of its neighboring counterpart, including the verification of political parties and regional representative aspirants, Mulyana added. KPU earlier allocated 10 House of Representatives seats to Papua and three to Irian Jaya Barat.